Jimmy Reece

Not to be confused with Jimmie Reese.
Jimmy Reece
Born November 17, 1929
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died September 28, 1958 (aged 28)
Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality United States American
Active years 1952, 19541958
Teams Pankratz, Kurtis Kraft, Watson, Lesovsky
Races 6
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podiums 0
Career points 0
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First race 1952 Indianapolis 500
Last race 1958 Indianapolis 500

Jimmy Reece (November 17, 1929 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma September 28, 1958 Trenton, New Jersey) was an American racecar driver. He died in a racing accident during a 1958 champ car race at Trenton Speedway.

Indy 500 results

Year Car Start Qual Rank Finish Laps Led Retired
1952 37 23 133.993 29 7 200 0 Running
1954 25 7 138.312 18 17 194 0 Flagged
1955 5 15 139.991 12 33 0 0 Rod
1956 26 21 142.885 14 9 200 0 Running
1957 5 6 142.006 11 18 182 0 Throttle
1958 16 3 145.513 3 6 200 0 Running
Totals 976 0

Starts 6
Poles 0
Front Row 1
Wins 0
Top 5 0
Top 10 3
Retired 2

World Championship career summary

The Indianapolis 500 was part of the FIA World Championship from 1950 through 1960. Drivers competing at Indy during those years were credited with World Championship points and participation. Jimmy Reece participated in 6 World Championship races but scored no World Championship points.

1954 Bobby Ball Memorial race

On November 8, 1954, Reece crashed in an AAA Champ Car race held at the Arizona State Fairgrounds, sustaining "a punctured lung, fractured right shoulder and possible internal injuries when his car flipped coming out of the south turn [...] and crashed into the east wall."[1]

Death

On September 28, 1958, Reece was killed during a USAC Champ Car race held at Trenton Speedway. On the first turn of the last lap, Reece's inside wheels got into the dirt next to the concrete track, causing his car to change its direction and run up an embankment. After bursting through a two-foot wooden fence on the edge of the track, the Kurtis 500G spiraled through the air and smashed down on a hurricane fence, having ejected its pilot, who died of multiple injuries in an ambulance.[2][3][4]

References

External links